Commodore 64

Introduced:January 1982
Released:September 1982
How many:~17 million
Price:US $595.
CPU:MOS 6510, 1MHz
Sound:SID 6581, 3 channels of sound
RAM:64K
Display:25 X 40 text 320 X 200, 16 colors max
Ports:TV, RGB & composite video 2 joysticks, cartridge port serial peripheral port
Peripherals: cassette recorder printer, modem external 170K floppy drive
OS:ROM BASIC

Although they look like an unimpessive keyboard-like box, the C-64 was wildly popular. More C-64's have been sold than any other single computer system, even to this day. That's about 17 million systems, according to the Commodore 1993 Annual Report.

The C-64 looks nearly identical to the Commodore VIC-20, released in 1981. They are similar, but the C-64 is more powerful with more features.

The 64's microprocessors support two high-resolution graphic modes, smooth scrolling, "sprites", bit mapping, character collision resolution and character mapped graphics, not to mention three channels of complex sound. All this make it an excellent game machine, which is what it excelled at the most, with thousands of software titles release and numerous peripherals to extend its capabilities.

Commodore continued to improve reliablilty, as well as reduce manufacturing costs. Eventually, it cost only about $25.00 to manufacture, and the consumer price of the C-64 dropped to around $200.00.

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